The Western world’s version of Chinese food tend to be on the heavy side. Start with something light, fresh and authentic.
Chinese New Year is upon us. How are you planning on celebrating it? If you’re on a tight budget or the thought of eating an unhealthy load of MSG puts you off, then it’s probably better to steer clear from Chinese restaurants and takeaway. That leaves concocting something yourself at home and I must admit that even I sometimes feel a bit intimidated by the thought of preparing a Chinese meal. This is where you’ll often find me red-handed with ready-made stir-fry sauces such as Sweet and Sour and Chow Mein from Amoy. It simply makes life so much easier!
Pai huang gua is super easy and quick to prepare. What I especially like about it is its low calorie content and that it will complement just about any dish. During the week, I sometimes eat this salad with baked new potatoes and if you’re on a diet, this is a dream meal. Vegans can rejoice too. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
Cook Chinese Food at Home
If you simply love Chinese food and would like to enjoy more of it at home instead of breaking the bank by constantly having takeaways, check out these fabulous cookbooks.
- Gok Cooks Chinese
- Ching’s Fast Food
- Chinese Food Made Easy
- Every Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking
- Gok’s Wok
Smashed Cucumber Salad
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 English cucumbers
- 1 red chili, finely sliced [optional]
- 1 bunch spring onions, finely sliced [optional]
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 15ml (1 tbsp) rice vinegar
- 15ml (1 tbsp) light soy sauce
- 15ml (1 tbsp) sesame oil
- 5ml (1 tsp) caster sugar
- 2.5ml (1/2 tsp) salt
Instructions
- Smash the cucumbers with a rolling pin on a chopping board. After their insides split open, cut into bite-sized pieces and place in a bowl.
- Add the chili and onions to the cucumber and mix.
- Place the garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, sugar and salt and in a small bowl and stir until everything is more or less incorporated.
- Pour the sauce onto the cucumber mixture and stir well.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- If you find that you have plenty of cucumber leftover that can’t go in the salad, don’t throw it away! Use it in some other recipes before it goes off e.g. a healthy cucumber ribbon salad for lunch or check out my guide on freezing cucumber if you don’t plan to use it soon.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Calories: 56
- Sugar: Sugars
- Sodium: 433 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.7 g
- Fiber: Dietary Fiber
- Protein: 2.1 g
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Meeta
I am totally on the same level — love these flavors! Light and fresh !
Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla
I like the idea of smashing cucumbers 🙂 Sounds delicious.
★★★★★
Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla
I like the idea of smashing cucumbers 🙂 Sounds delicious.
★★★★★
Elizabeth
A gorgeous, beautifully photographed recipe – my goodness I want to jump right in and start eating!
Elizabeth
A gorgeous, beautifully photographed recipe – my goodness I want to jump right in and start eating!
Jan Bennett
I’m hungry now – stunning photos!
Jen
I’ve not come across smashed cucumbers before, looks like they make a great refreshing base for a salad though.
Jen
I’ve not come across smashed cucumbers before, looks like they make a great refreshing base for a salad though.
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
This looks so refreshing Michelle, perfect for when on has over indulged at this time of year.
Jeanne Horak-Druiff
Now there’s an idea – smashing cucumbers! What a great frustration release ;o) Love the fresh and light flavours of this salad – we had something similar (although sliced rather than smashed) in Singapore at an amazing dim sum restaurant – definitely need to try this at home!
★★★★★
Corina
I’ve never smashed cucumbers before but it’s something I’d love to try – especially after a stressful day! The salad looks really tasty and I love all the flavours in it.
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
This is a perfect side dish to enjoy with Chinese food, really refreshing contrasting to the richness of other dishes. We all love cucumber salad here, but yours is on another level. Stunning pictures too 🙂
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
This is a perfect side dish to enjoy with Chinese food, really refreshing contrasting to the richness of other dishes. We all love cucumber salad here, but yours is on another level. Stunning pictures too 🙂
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
This is a perfect side dish to enjoy with Chinese food, really refreshing contrasting to the richness of other dishes. We all love cucumber salad here, but yours is on another level. Stunning pictures too 🙂
All That I'm Eating
Love salads like this, so vibrant and really refreshing.
Emily Leary
This looks satisfying and refreshing – lovely!
Barbara
Hi. If one was to be ‘making & taking’ this interesting salad to a function, would the ‘abused cucumber’ ? Keep fresh-looking OK, or go a bit sad & flat !
Thanks
Renil M. George
Colorful and refreshing dish,
★★★★★
Ella Grundle
Thanks for the recipe! I have so many cucumbers in my fridge righht now!
David Gai
Thank goodness that I’ve got a vegetable slicer 🙂
Walter Unlon
I used fresh cucumbers from my garden. It was excellent. Yum yum yum